Jewelry Tips

It’s party time! Ready to step out in style and make an impression? How do you look like a million dollars without breaking the bank? The answer lies in the working woman’s favorite faux gemstone jewelry.

Quality crystal jewelry can look every bit as exquisite and expensive as jewelry using precious or semi-precious stones, at a fraction of the price. Of course, not all crystal jewelry is created equal, so how do you choose the right pieces to help you achieve that million-dollar look? Here are some tips:

Opt For Colors Similar To Real Gemstone Colors
Crystals today come in a dizzying array of colors, some virtually identical to those of precious or semi-precious stones. Some colors look obviously unreal or even surreal. Nothing wrong with that, if you are the adventurous type. However, if you’d like your jewelry to look like the real thing, go window-shopping at jewelry shops carrying real gemstone jewelry. After you’ve fainted at the prices, take note of the colors and hues of the gemstones. What kind of blues do sapphires have? What about the greens of emeralds and peridots? You may prefer stones like the topaz because you like warm, earthy colors like brown, amber and copper. If you like classic diamonds, there are high-quality crystals which the naked eye cannot distinguish from real diamonds. Be smart about your crystal jewelry color choices, and your faux jewelry can look fabulously real.

Choose Shapes Which Emulate Real Gemstones
While window-shopping at jewelry stores which sell real gemstone jewelry, observe the shapes these stones take. Crystals can be cut into all kinds of amazing shapes, but semi-precious and precious stones rarely stray from certain traditional shapes. If you want your crystal jewelry to look convincingly real, go for these traditional shapes. The number of facets matter as well. Precious stones are often cut with many facets, for maximum brilliance. Crystals cut with many facets can simulate this same dazzling effect. The fewer the facets, the more the crystal will look like ordinary glass.

Go For Top-Quality Crystal Jewelry
Swarovski crystals from Austria are known to be the very best, due to their high lead content, precision cutting and polishing. Swarovski crystals sparkle and shine like real jewels. If you want your jewelry to look expensive, stay away from inferior-quality crystals from relatively-new entrants to the market like China and the Czech Republic. Such cheap crystals boost the profit margins of crystal jewelry manufacturers and retailers but do you really want to wear what looks like dull, ordinary glass when, for a few dollars more, your crystal jewelry can look like the real deal? Always insist on top-quality crystal jewelry.


Look For Elegant & Classic Designs Which Are Well-Made
Craftsmanship is key. The design, setting and other materials used to create the crystal jewelry are just as important as the quality of the crystal itself.  Imagine if the Mona Lisa was put into a plastic frame. That would ruin the whole effect. When shopping for crystal jewelry, ask yourself if the designs look tasteful, stylish and classy. Elegant and classic designs which will go perfectly with evening wear are always a good choice. Check out other details like, for instance, thickness of silver or rhodium plating, quality of the setting, and how the jewelry pieces are finished. Will the metal parts tarnish or flake? Do they gleam like precious metals and will they stay that way? If the crystal jewelry items don’t look like a class act, you won’t look like a class act.